David Limrite-Artist, Coach, Mentor, Teacher

Above is a photo of a recently completed page in my large 30"x 20" sketchbook project. I have six pages left to create and then I will go back through all of the pages to see if there are any that I want to change or redo. I know there are some. Hopefully I can complete this project in a month or two. My plan is to then create a video tour of all 26 pages. Stay tuned.

"If you hear a voice within you saying, ' you are not a painter, ' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced."

~Vincent Van Gogh

Defining Success As An Artist

How do you define success? Quality. Numbers of paintings completed. Satisfaction with your work. How many galleries show your work. How many exhibits you have had recently. How many juried shows you get accepted in. Sales. Praise. Positive Reviews. Being reviewed at all.

Sure. Maybe. Sometimes.

However, the above criteria can be elusive, fleeting or even nonexistent.

The above usually requires the help and cooperation of other people.

You can create your own success.

You can create success from your everyday courageous efforts to create.

Consider that everyday you engage in a creative act is a successful day.

Sunday Musings

I just want to put it out there that I have begun in earnest to write the book that has been swimming around in my head for about three years now. I do not know who I am thinking that I can write a book that people will actually read, let alone be able to write a book at all. I am hoping that my 30 years of art making and teaching will account for something.

I am in the process of fleshing out its concepts, creating chapter titles and writing an outline. It is tentatively titled " Create Like You Mean It".

The basic premise of the book is that we are all creative but are either afraid to explore our creativity, or if we do manage to engage, have trouble staying on course or gaining momentum, or we have lost our way entirely. Artists will probably get the most out of this book, however, I am writing it for the widest audience possible.

The purpose of this book is to inspire people to embrace their creativity and ask "What if?" The goal is to help make creativity accessible by empowering people to enter into a state of mind which enables them to create, explore their ideas, take risks and discover what is possible. My intention is to teach people how to manage their minds as they engage in their creative pursuits, and to support them on their journey. I want to motivate and encourage people to say yes, show up with intention, and trust and persevere with confidence and courage.

I have no idea how long it will take for me to write this book and then even have any hope of it getting published. Could take years. I just know that writing it is something that I am compelled to do. So I begin the journey.

I somehow gathered some courage from somewhere and decided to put this out there to you all so that I would have to commit to the project and see it through.

I would really appreciate any thoughts or ideas you might have for this book, as well as any encouragement you might be willing to offer. Thanks.

Best,

David